The defender has been an impressive performer in an excellent season for the Blues as they prepare for a quarter-final trip to Portsmouth and sit eighth in the Premier League.

Birmingham have already won away games against Everton and Derby, and drawn at Nottingham Forest, on their way to the last eight in the cup and Ridgewell, who scored the late winner against the Rams, does not want that run to come to an end.

"We are doing it the hard way with these away ties, but as long as we keep winning I'm not too bothered," he said in the Birmingham Mail.

"If we just keep doing what we're doing then we're a match for anyone."

With only Chelsea remaining in the FA Cup from the Premier League's traditional Big Four, the competition is wide open when compared to previous campaigns.

Ridgewell also takes encouragement from the examples of quarter-final opponents Pompey, who defeated Cardiff in the 2008 final, and 2004 runners-up Millwall.

"It shows teams can get to finals outside of the normal top four," he added. "Portsmouth did it, Cardiff, Millwall. We've just got to believe we can as well."